Lionel Messi

Messi after scoring goal at El Clasico (fcbtransfers.blogspot.com)

Although hundreds of thousands of fans love him because he has achieved dozens of trophies and is considered one of the best soccer players in the world, I admire Lionel Andreas Messi for different reasons. As I first started watching professional soccer, my friend introduced me to Spanish La Liga soccer. Soon after, we became huge fans of the club team Barcelona and especially Lionel Messi. I esteem Messi for several reasons, including his ability to overcome the adversity of a difficult childhood. Another reason involves his respect and value of his teammates even though he is one of the greatest players that ever lived. For all these points, I admire Lionel Messi.

By age eight, Messi had begun playing soccer, at which he excelled. Unfortunately, from age eleven he suffered from growth hormone deficiency. This disorder caused Lionel to remain shorter and frailer than others, which some people thought would cause him to stop playing soccer, but it did not. Near this time, FC Barcelona scouted Messi out and offered to pay for the treatment of his illness if he agreed to move to Spain from his home in Argentina, and play for Barcelona's younger club teams. As he became older, his fame grew and many clubs offered to contract him, but he stayed with Barcelona because he had become good friends with the players there and felt he owed a debt to the club. Despite the fact that Lionel became extremely popular soon after playing in the top league, he never forgot friends, family, and others in need. In addition to donating more than half his salary to charity, he shows empathy by hosting and attending numerous events to help poor or afflicted children. In the 2007 El Clasico, after scoring a goal to tie a game he ran over to the cameras and pulled up his jersey to reveal his shirt underneath, which had the words "Sindrome X Fragil" on it. (Fragile X Syndrome) Messi gave tribute to this ailment because it is very similar to what he suffered as a child and also because he spends much time with kids badly affected by this syndrome.

Many things Lionel Messi has done inspire me. One of these, the way he did not give up when he began to go through difficult trials, I find relevant to my life. Although I have never gone through anything like he did, I still think about how it is important to not give up easily and to push through the bad or else you will not achieve anything in your life. If Messi had given up then he would not have become such an amazing soccer player. Also, the way Lionel esteems and appreciates his teammates reminds me that when I achieve something I should always remember those who helped. The final thing that makes me admire Lionel Messi involves the way he spends time to encourage and help children suffering from Fragile X Syndrome or other afflictions. I believe this makes him a true hero.